Carrier is a world leader in heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration solutions, selling a variety of air conditioning and heating products and providing warranty plans for their products.
At This Old House, we’ve reviewed agreements from the top home warranty providers, and evaluated them based on elements like plan structure, cost breakdown, customer reviews, and the claims process. In this review, we’ll discuss Carrier warranty plans to give you thorough, accurate information on the terms and conditions of their service contracts.
Pros and Cons of a Carrier Warranty
Compare the pros and cons of a Carrier warranty below.
Carrier Warranty Plans and Coverage
Carrier doesn’t provide traditional home warranty plans that cover multiple systems or appliances in one comprehensive package. Instead, the specific products homeowners purchased from Carrier are covered under the company’s own warranty plan.
Below is a breakdown of the products sold, as well as how long they’re covered under a Carrier warranty. The “Original Owner” column displays the number of years the item is covered for the first owner, and the “Subsequent Owner” column displays the number of years covered by the second owner once the warranty is transferred to them.
*Note: Coverage for appliances and systems housed in apartments or rental properties is only available for the original owner up to five years.
Carrier Warranty Coverage
| System or Appliance | Original Owner | Subsequent Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioners or Heat Pump Condensing Units | 10* (5) | 5 |
| Air Purifier | 10* (or 5) | 5 |
| Boilers | 10–20 (5–20) | 5–20 |
| Central Dehumidifier | 5 | 5 |
| Ductless Split Units | 10* (or 5) | 5 |
| Evaporator Coils | 10* (or 5) | 5 |
| Fan Coil | 10* (or 5) | 5 |
| Residential Apartment Fan Coils | 10* (or 5) | 5 |
| Non-Condensing Gas Furnace | 5–Lifetime | 5–20 |
| Condensing Gas Furnace with Tube and Fin Secondary Heat Exchanger | 5–Lifetime | 5–20 |
| Heat Pumps | 10* (or 5) | 5 |
| Air Conditioner & Heat Pump Condensing Units with Puron® (R-410A) Refrigerant | 10* (or 5) | 5 |
| Humidifier | 10* (or 5) | 5 |
| Côr® Thermostats | 5* (or 3) | 3 |
| Thermostats | 5* (or 3) | 3 |
| Zoning Controls or Zoning Kits | 10* (or 5) | 5 |
| Oil Furnace | 5–Lifetime | 5–20 |
| Small Packaged Products | 5–Lifetime | 5–20 |
| Ultraviolet Replacement Bulb | 90 days | 90 days |
| Ventilator | 10* (or 5) | 5 |
| Carrier Thermostats | 5* (or 3) | 3 |
In all warranty agreements, there are some cases where items are not eligible for coverage. Here’s a breakdown of the coverage exceptions:
Costs related to defective parts, replacement parts, or new units due to:
- Diagnosing
- Repairing
- Removing
- Installing
- Shipping
- Servicing
- Handling
Normal maintenance as outlined in the installation and servicing instructions or Owner’s Manual, including:
- Filter cleaning
- Filter replacement
- Lubrication
Failure, damage or repairs from:
- Faulty installation
- Misapplication
- Abuse
- Improper servicing
- Unauthorized alteration
- Improper operation
Failure to start due to:
- Voltage conditions
- Blown fuses
- Open circuit breakers
- Damages due to the inadequacy or interruption of electrical service
Failure or damage due to:
- Floods
- Winds
- Fires
- Lightning
- Accidents
- Corrosive environments (rust, etc.)
- Other conditions beyond the control of Carrier
- Parts not supplied or designated by Carrier, or damages resulting from their use
- Products installed outside the United States or its territories and Canada
- Electricity or fuel costs
- Increases in electricity or fuel costs from any reason whatsoever, including additional or unusual use of supplemental electric heat
- Any special, indirect, or consequential property or commercial damage of any nature whatsoever
- Any cost to replace, refill, or dispose of refrigerant, including the cost of refrigerant
Carrier Warranty Cost
Carrier warranties are included with the cost of a Carrier product upon purchase. Additionally, Carrier does not charge a service fee when technicians visit your home to repair or replace components.
In general, most home repair insurance companies charge between $300–$600 a year for home warranties and require service fees, which are paid by the homeowner directly to the technician at the time of repair or replacement. The average service fee in the home warranty industry is between $75–$125.
Carrier Warranty Claims Process
To make a claim, you must register your Carrier product online within 90 days of original installation. Carrier will need your date of installation, which is the date the homeowner purchased the home from the builder. If you can’t verify this exact date, then the warranty period begins 90 days from when the product was manufactured, as indicated by the model and serial number.
To register your product, you’ll need the following pieces of information:
- Model number
- Serial number
- Date of installation
- Who it was installed by
- Name of owner
- Address of installation
Once your product is registered, make sure your product meets the following criteria to be eligible for coverage:
- The product must be installed properly by a licensed HVAC technician
- The warranty applies only to products remaining in their original installation location
- Installation, use, care, and maintenance must be normal and in accordance with instructions contained in the Installation Instructions Owner’s Manual and Company’s service information
- Defective parts must be returned to the distributor through a registered servicing dealer for credit
Carrier Service and Fees
Once you’ve identified an issue with your product, immediately contact Carrier. You can call Carrier at 1-800-227-7437, reach the company online, or notify the company in writing by certified or registered letter of any defect or complaint with the product, stating the defect or complaint and a specific request for repair.
As an alternative, you can contact the installer directly, whose name will be on the equipment and in your owner’s packet. Note: the service agreement states that proof of purchase may be required at the time of service.
Carrier Warranty Reviews
Carrier is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an A- rating from customers. The company’s highest rating is a 3-star review, and most reviews noted poor support, delays in waiting for replaced units, and many appliances breaking much earlier than expected.
Our Conclusion
Though Carrier provides decent coverage for HVAC components, we think there are better options available for homeowners who want to protect other major systems and appliances in their homes.
The Best Home Warranty Companies
We recommend American Home Shield and Select Home Warranty for full coverage on your most important home systems and appliances.
| Best For | Monthly Cost | Service Fee | BBB Rating | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Home Guard |  | Best Customer Ratings | $49–$60 | $65–$125 | A | VISIT SITE |
| American Home Shield |  | Best for Comprehensive Coverage | $64–$74 | $100–$125 | B | VISIT SITE |
| Select Home Warranty |  | Best Value | $44–$48 | $60–$75 | B- | VISIT SITE |
| AFC Home Club |  | Best for Customization | $48–$55 | $75–$125 | B | VISIT SITE |
| First American Home Warranty |  | Best Appliance Coverage | $60–$76 | $75–$125 | B | VISIT SITE |
| Elite Home Warranty |  | Flexible Coverage | $55–$75 | $70 | A+ | VISIT SITE |
| Cinch Home Services |  | Best Additional Perks | $47–$64 | $100–$150 | B | VISIT SITE |
| 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty |  | Cheapest Appliances Plan | $22–$74 | $65–$100 | B+ | VISIT SITE |
| Liberty Home Guard | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Best For | Best Customer Ratings |
| Monthly Cost | $49–$60 |
| Service Fee | $65–$125 |
| BBB Rating | A |
| American Home Shield | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Best For | Best for Comprehensive Coverage |
| Monthly Cost | $64–$74 |
| Service Fee | $100–$125 |
| BBB Rating | B |
| Select Home Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Best For | Best Value |
| Monthly Cost | $44–$48 |
| Service Fee | $60–$75 |
| BBB Rating | B- |
| AFC Home Club | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Best For | Best for Customization |
| Monthly Cost | $48–$55 |
| Service Fee | $75–$125 |
| BBB Rating | B |
| First American Home Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Best For | Best Appliance Coverage |
| Monthly Cost | $60–$76 |
| Service Fee | $75–$125 |
| BBB Rating | B |
| Elite Home Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Best For | Flexible Coverage |
| Monthly Cost | $55–$75 |
| Service Fee | $70 |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Cinch Home Services | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Best For | Best Additional Perks |
| Monthly Cost | $47–$64 |
| Service Fee | $100–$150 |
| BBB Rating | B |
| 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
|
| Best For | Cheapest Appliances Plan |
| Monthly Cost | $22–$74 |
| Service Fee | $65–$100 |
| BBB Rating | B+ |
We think the best overall home warranty provider is American Home Shield (AHS). It’s the oldest home warranty provider in the business and has a network of more than 15,000 licensed contractors. The company also covers 23 essential systems and appliances in its ShieldPlatinum™ and ShieldGold™ plans.
Here are just a few reasons why this company is one of the best in the home warranty industry:
- Offers three plan types to choose from for added flexibility
- Operates in 49 states (excluding Alaska)
- Has been in business since 1971
- Lets customers select a service fee from $75, $100, or $125
- Answers service requests within 24 hours 98% of the time
It is important to note, however, that most home warranty providers, including American Home Shield, do not cover appliances or systems that are under an existing manufacturer’s warranty. If your warranty through Carrier runs for 10 years, American Home Shield won’t cover your HVAC unit until the warranty has run its course.
Here’s how the home warranty provider stacks up against Carrier’s warranty options:
AHS vs Carrier
| Provider | American Home Shield | Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Sample Contract Provided | Yes | Yes |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 0 |
| Average Lowest Cost | $500 per year | N/A |
| Optional Add-Ons | Yes | No |
| Waiting Period | 30 Days | N/A |
| Service Fee | $75, $100, or $125 | N/A |
| Years in Business | Since 1971 | Since 1915 |
| BBB-Accredited | Yes | No |
| BBB Rating | B | A- |
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team backs up our home warranty ratings and recommendations with a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each provider. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts from each company, and conducting focus groups and consumer surveys. We then score each provider against our review standards for coverage, value, trustworthiness and transparency, availability, and customer service to arrive at a final score out of 100.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.